The Animal Welfare Act still stands despite repeated challenges by Animal Rights activists and shockingly, the American Kennel Club.

SANTORUM & AKC CAMPAIGN FOR PAWS

AKC President Dennis Sprung Campaigns with Senator Santorum

TheDogPlace.org Legislation Report, July 2005

The Pet Animal Welfare Act (PAWS) is distressing enough but when TheDogPlace.org informed dog owners that the AKC President Dennis Sprung is on the stump with PAWS Sponsor Senator Santorum (R-PA), dog breeders were outraged!

We are beginning to see that the alliance between the American Kennel Club and Animal Rights groups is designed to end all but commercial (puppy mill) dog breeding. First, read the local press release below. Just one piece of the puzzle proving AKC President Dennis Sprung's betrayal of purebred dog breeders.

Then keep reading to learn of an even more ominous betrayal - your hobby breeder IRS exemption and AKC's collusion with the IRS!

Senator Santorum to Discuss Legislation to End Puppy Mill Abuse

July 6, 2005 - For Immediate Release

Chester Springs, PA – U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today was in Chester County at Eagle Farms Kennel and in Philadelphia to deliver the keynote address to the first graduating class of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity Workforce Development Project.

In Chester Springs today Senator Santorum was joined by U.S. Representative Jim Gerlach (R-PA-6); Dennis Sprung, President and CEO of the American Kennel Club (AKC); members of local kennel clubs, and dog breeders to discuss the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS). Senator Santorum introduced the legislation in the Senate to address the lack of regulatory oversight that has allowed some in the pet industry to operate below the acceptable care standards for pets. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is an original cosponsor of the legislation and Representative Gerlach has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“I want to thank Representative Gerlach, the American Kennel Club, and dog breeders for joining me today to express support for the PAWS legislation,” said Senator Santorum.

“As the proud owner of a two-year-old German Shepherd named Schatzie, it is disturbing to see the number of breeders who are careless in their responsibilities of breeding dogs in a healthy and humane environment. Breeding and raising dogs without respect to the animal's welfare guarantees bad results for the unknowing owner, and for the health of the dog and her puppies.”

"Wholesale dog and cat breeding facilities are licensed to operate by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and are required to comply with the rules and regulations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) which sets standards for the humane handling and treatment of animals. However, under current law only breeders and others who sell animals at wholesale are regulated, allowing some commercial breeders and brokers to avoid regulation by selling directly to the consumer. The USDA has very limited ability to oversee the care and condition of animals in these facilities.

"This legislation provides an exemption for hobby breeders and pet owners. Currently hobby breeders and pet owners that sell at retail, as well as retail pet stores are exempt from the AWA because the USDA considers them to be retail pet stores. The PAWS legislation also sets out two exemptions for hobbyist and pet owners who sell at retail. Persons who whelp six or less litters per year or persons who sell less then 25 dogs per year are exempted. A person only needs to satisfy one of the two provisions to be exempted from the AWA.

"According to the AKC, this provision will exempt more than ninety-six percent of breeders who
register litters with the AKC, and of the less than four percent, which it covers, more than half of them are already covered by the existing Act.

"Senator Santorum is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition and General Legislation, which has jurisdiction over this issue."

--- end press release quote

As you digest this shocking information on AKC's betrayal of purebred dog breeders, bear in mind that the American Kennel Club and most of its subsidiaries (AKC Canine Health Foundation (see AKC/CHF
Loses Law Suit Filed By Former CHF Director), AKC Humane Fund (Breed
Rescue), etc. are all not-for-profit 501c3 or other tax-exempt organizations.

No one likes to see their heroes fall but keep reading because you don't want to be a fool either.

Sept 2013 update - When TheDogPlace.org revealed the AKC-PAWS deceit, breeder outrage prevented (R) Senator Santorum's re-election but nothing AKC
could say or do will ever erase this betrayal from the minds of purebred dog breeders.

Is there some kind of conspiratorial connection between the American Kennel Club

and politicians who would regulate Hobby Breeders out of existence?

More than a few asked if it is IRS-legal for the tax-free, non-profit AKC to
campaign with a candidate? The answer is "no" but it appears that no one in Washington DC
is looking, particularly the Internal Revenue Service. We now know the Director of the IRS
tax-exempt department was Lois Lerner, an HSUS mole!